38 years ago

Date: 22nd March 1986

Title: WBC World Heavyweight Title

Promoter: Dynamic Duo Inc, Don King Productions, Butch Lewis Productions

Tv: HBO

Pinklon Thomas
( 26 - 0 - 1 )
Weight: 222 3/4 lbs

Trevor Berbick
( 30 - 4 - 1 )
Weight: 218 1/2 lbs

Trevor Berbick, a 6½-1 underdog, defeated the previously unbeaten WBC Heavyweight Champion Pinklon Thomas unanimously on March 22, 1986, at the Riviera Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The judges' scorecards read 115-113 (Arlen Bynum), 115-114 (Art Lurie), and 115-113 (Paul Smith), all in favour of Berbick.

The fight was a gruelling 12-round battle, with Berbick's strength and quickness proving to be the deciding factors. Although there were no knockdowns, both fighters showed signs of the contest's brutality, with Berbick marked around both eyes and Thomas suffering a cut in the corner of his left eye.

In the 11th round, Berbick rocked Thomas with a powerful left hook, nearly sending him to the canvas. Thomas fought back and survived the round, but Berbick's relentless pressure throughout the fight ultimately earned him the victory.

This was Berbick's second attempt at a world title. In 1981, he lost to Larry Holmes in a bid for the WBC Heavyweight Championship. The victory improved his record to 31-4-1.

For Thomas, this was the second defence of the title he had won from Tim Witherspoon in August 1984. The loss, his first as a professional, dropped his record to 26-1-1.

The fight was the first in a series of heavyweight title bouts aimed at crowning an undisputed champion by 1987, with the title fragmented since 1978. The next fight in the series was the Michael Spinks-Larry Holmes rematch, scheduled for April 19, 1986, in Las Vegas.